Apparatus for transporting solids



June 28, 1966 w, cc u 3,258,297

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING SOLIDS Filed April 15, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l T-vw- 2\ m a) m Q l co co m T I m N 6 f\ N LU V N I I) Q) INVENTOR W LIAM L. MC CLURE ATTORNEY June 28, 1966 w. MCCLURE 3,258,297

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING SOLIDS Filed April 13, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGURE 3 INVENTOR WILLIAM L. M CLURE ATTORNEY June 28, 1966 w, MccLURE 3,258,297

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING SOLIDS Filed April 13, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGURE 4 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM L. MC CLURE y dw ATTORNEY United States Patent 3 253,297 APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING SOLIDS William L. McClure, Maumee, Ohio, assignor to Sun (Bil Company, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 359,332 2 Claims. (ill. 302-51) This invention relates to an apparatus for transporting solids, and more particularly to an apparatus for unloading granular solid material (e.g., a pelletized catalyst) from a shipping container (such as a railroad hopper car) and conveying or transporting it to a storage container or bin.

Among the objects of this invention are: to provide an apparatus which will give a high rate of flow of material with a minimum expenditure of power and with a minimum amount of erosion of the apparatus by the solid material.

A detailed description of the invention follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a transporting apparatus according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a central vertical section through the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top or plan view of the apparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken along line 4-4- of FIG. 2.

Now referring to the drawings, the granular solid material to be transported is caused to flow by gravity into the upper end of a funnel which is denoted generally by numeral 1. For example, the funnel 1 is constructed and arranged to fit under a railroad track (on which a hopper car carrying the material is positioned) after the removal of one tie. The upper end 2 of funnel 1 would be at ground level, the ground being smoothed off adjacent the upper end of the funnel with some suitable hard surface, such as concrete. The railroad hopper car in which the solid material (e.g., pelletized catalyst) is shipped can then dump directly over the funnel 1; when the car is empty, the material which is spilled is swept into the inlet of the funnel.

At its upper end or inlet 2, the funnel 1 has a substantially square horizontal cross-section (see FIG. 3), and may be about thirteen inches on a side. The upper portion 1a of funnel 1 is approximately frusto-pyramidal, with its maximum cross-sectional area at the top 2, the horizontal cross-section at the lower end of this portion 1a being rectangular and about 5 inches by six inches, with the longer or six-inch dimension extending vertically in FIG. 3.

Integrally joined to the lower end of the upper portion 1a of the funnel is a lower funnel portion 1b which has curved front and rear walls 11 and 12, respectively (see FIG. 2) but has planar side walls 14 and (see FIG. 3). The walls 11 and 12 of the funnel portion 1b are curved in such a manner that the cross-sectional area of the funnel (taken in a plane perpendicular to the center line of the funnel) decreases in the downward direction from the lower end of the frusto-pyrarnidal portion 1a (while maintaining the full six-inch width, which dimension extends vertically in FIG. 3), while the center line of the funnel extends in a generally downward direction but inclines (at a small angle to the vertical) toward the left (or front) in FIGS. 2 and 3. It will be appreciated that the aforementioned decrease in the cross-sectional area of the funnel portion 1b comes about because of the curvature of the front and rear walls 11 and 12 of this portion, since the side walls 14 and 15 of this portion (which latter extend in the horizontal direction in FIG.

3) are planar. Speaking generally, any cross-section taken in a plane perpendicular to the center line of the funnel portion 1b will be a rectangle. By way of example, the rectangular cross-section at the lower end of funnel 1 (shown in FIG. 4) may have dimensions of 1% inches by six inches.

The lower end of the lower funnel portion 1b extends through a suitable opening provided in the top wall of an elongated chamber or box 3 whose long dimension extends horizontally. The said opening is located near one end of the top wall of box 3, and the outlet end or lower end of the funnel 1 is located within the box. Box 3 has a rectangular cross-section, with inside dimensions of 2 /2 inches by six inches, by way of example, and, as previously stated, the center line of the box extends horizontally. The planar side walls 14 and 15 of funnel portion 1b extend, in the vertical direction, from the lower end of the upper funnel portion 1a down to the top wall of box 3. Thus, there is formed a four-sided funnel portion 1b. The rear edges of the side walls 14 and 15 are inclined to the vertical (see FIG. 2), to more or less follow the direction of the funnel rear wall 12, while the front edges of these side walls extend vertically. As previously mentioned, side walls 14 and 15 are planar and are spaced six inches apart, measured in the horizontal direction in FIG. 1 or in the vertical direction in FIG. 3.

A rectangular outwardly-extending flange 4 is secured (as by welding) to that end of box 3 which is nearer to funnel 1 (to wit, the right-hand end thereof in FIG. 2), to define a lower air chamber 5 between such flange and the rear wall 12 of the funnel. The remaining walls of the chamber 5 are defined by the four walls of the rectangular box 3. In connection with the air chamber 5, it is pointed out that the rear wall 12 of the funnel 1, throughout its width, fits quite closely within the rear edge of the opening provided in the top wall of box 3, so that there is no leakage of air through the joint between these two members. Flange 4 has therein a plurality of spaced holes 6, which are adapted to receive fastening bolts and which are located near the edges of this flange and arranged in a rectangular pattern.

Compressed air, at a pressure of 10 to p.s.i.g., is supplied to the lower air chamber 5 from a suitable source, through a pipe 7 which may be two inches in diameter, by way of example. One end of pipe 7 has secured thereto (as by welding) a rectangular outwardly-extending flange 8 which matches flange 4 and is provided with a plurality of holes 9 exactly matching holes 6. Thus, fastening bolts (not shown) may be passed through the aligned holes 6 and 9, and then secured with nuts, in order to fasten pipe 7 to the box flange 4, thereby to place pipe 7 in communication with chamber 5.

A lower wear plate 10 is secured, as by welding, to the inner face of the bottom wall of box 3. Plate 10 is elongated in the direction of the length of box 3, and the right-hand end portion (or rear portion) of this plate extends into air chamber 5; this plate extends from one side wall to the other of box 3, so that its dimension perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 2 is six inches. The right-hand end portion of plate 10, from its extreme right hand or rear end to a point directly below the lower or outlet end of the rear wall 12 of funnel 1, inclines upwardly at an acute angle (e.g., 11) with the horizontal. This inclined surface is spaced a small dis tance (e.g., inch) below the lower end of the funnel rear wall 12, thereby to provide a narrow slot 13 (nar row in the vertical direction) between the funnel outlet and plate 10, which latter may be thought of as forming a part of the box or chamber 3. The slot 13 is rectangular and has dimensions of inch by six inches.

Slot 13 provides a communication between the lower air chamber and the remainder of box 3, so that the high-pressure air supplied to chamber 5 (in the manner previously described) issues through slot 13 in the form of a high-pressure gaseous jet. It may be seen that this jet is projected between the funnel outlet (lower end of funnel 1) and chamber or box 3, and is directed generally away from the outlet of the funnel, in the direction of the length of box 3. It may be seen that the slot 13 extends along one of the longer sides of the rectangular lower end of funnel 1. The aforementioned jet provides a motive force for the granular solid material (e.g., cat-alyst) which reaches the outlet of funnel 1 as a result of gravitational force; this jet is one of the two jets utilized in the apparatus of this invention, for transporting the granular solid material frontwardly, or to the left in FIG. 2, through box 3 in a substantially horizontal direction.

At this juncture, it is desired to be pointed out that the value of the angle a (that is, the angle between the plane of the outlet of funnel and the horizontal, or between the line 4-4 and the horizontal) is somewhat critical. This angle should lie in the range of about 45 to about 60. Typically, it should be about 60. If this angle a is too small, the lower air stream or air jet (which issues through slot 13, as previously described) will back out through the inlet of the funnel, seriously limiting the fiow of granular solid material (catalyst). It is pointed out that the funnel outlet (considered in the plane of the funnel outlet, taken at right angles to the center line of the funnel, across the lower extremity of the funnel) has a rectangular cross-section (see FIG. 4).

Forwardly or to the left of the lower end of funnel rear wall 12, lower plate 10 inclines downwardly at an acute angle (e.g., with the horizontal, for some distance, and then changes its angle of inclination to a considerably smaller one for the remainder of its length, that is, to its forward end (or left-hand end in FIG. 2). The horizontal projection of the 15 -downwardly-inclined portion of plate 10 is slightly greater than that of the 11-upwardly-inclined portion of this wear plate. By way of example, the overall length of plate 10 may be seven inches, while the sum of the lengths of the 15- downw-ardly-inclined and the 11-upwardly-inclined portions may be three inches.

A rectangular plate 16 is secured along its side edges to the funnel side walls 14 and 15, respectively, along its upper edge to the funnel front wall 11, and along its lower edge to the top wall of box 3, to define an upper air chamber 17. The remaining walls of this chamber 17 are defined by the funnel front wall 11 and the funnel side walls 14 and 15. Plate 16 has a hole 18 therethrough, around the edge of which is secured (as by welding) one end of an upper air supply pipe 19, which (like the lower air supply pipe 7) may be two inches in diameter. Compressed air is supplied from -a suitable high-pressure source through pipe 19 to the air chamber 17 An upper wear plate 20 is secured, as by welding, to the inner face of the top wall of box 3. Plate 20 is elongated in the direction of the length of box 3, and this plate extends from one side wall to the other of box 3, so that its dimension perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 2 is six inches. To form the front edge of the opening by means of which funnel 1 enters box 3, the top wall of box 3 is cut away even with the inner face of plate 16. The right-hand or rear end of plate 20 extends somewhat into chamber 17, and the right-hand end portion of this plate is cut along an arc, thereby to provide a cylindrical surface, and this surface is spaced a small distance (e.g., inch) forwardly of the funnel front wall 11, at the lower end of this wall. The aforesaid cylindrical surface spans the lower end of the funnel front Wall, extending both above and below such lower end. The space between plate 20 and the funnel front wall 11 provides a narrow slot 22 (narrow in the direction parallel to the plane of the paper in FIG. 2) between the funnel outlet 'and plate 20, which latter may be thought of as forming a part of the box or chamber 3. The slot 22 is approximately rectangular, with dimensions of inch by six inches.

Slot 22 provides a communication between the upper air chamber 17 and the interior of box 3, so that the highpressure air supplied to chamber 17 (in the manner previously described) issues through slot 22 in the form of a high-pressure gaseous jet. It may be seen that this jet is projected between the funnel outlet (lower end of funnel 1) and chamber or box 3, and is directed generally away from the outlet of the funnel, in the direction of the length of box 3. It may be seen that the slot 22 extends along one of the longer sides of the rectangular lower end of funnel 1, and is across the funnel from slot 13. The aforementioned jet also provides a motive force for the granular solid material (e.g., catalyst) which reaches the outlet of funnel 1 as a result of gravitational force; this latter jet is the other of the two jets utilized in the apparatus of this invention, for transporting the granular solid material frontwardly or to the left in FIG. 2, through box 3 in a substantially horizontal direction. As previously pointed out, the cross-section at the funnel outlet is rectangular, and the two jets are located at respective opposite sides of the outlet (see FIG. 4, wherein it can be seen that the slots 13 and 22, through which the respective jets issue, are at respective opposite sides of the rectangular outlet of funnel 1).

The :purpose of the cylindrical surface portion of plate Zil is to change the angle of the jet stream leaving chamber 17 from a nearly vertical direction to a nearly horizontal direction. This action comes about by reason of the following. In the first place, the air stream nearest the curved surface of plate 20 has a higher velocity than the surrounding air. According to Bernoulli, the pressure in this high-velocity stream is lower than the pressure in the surrounding air. Thus, the low-pressure, highvelocity stream is held against the curved surface of plate 20 by the higher-pressure adjacent air, and the jet stream is directed into a more horizontal direction.

Forwardly or to the left of the cylindrical surface portion of upper plate 20, this plate inclines upwardly toward the horizontal, to bring this plate down to zero thickness at a point such that the overall length of this plate is some four inches.

The upper and lower wear plates 20 and 10, respectively, are shaped to provide a throat (of restricted crosssection) downstream from the jet slots 22 and 13, and from the outlet end of funnel 1. Just as in a. stream jet, a restricted cross-section should be provided after the jet stream, to accelerate the material being picked up, as well as to maintain a certain elevated pressure in the line, downstream from the restriction. In the catalyst jet apparatus of this invention, the restricted section or throat should be kept as short (in length) as possible, to produce a relatively small acceleration of the catalyst pellets, and as small in cross-section as possible, to maintain the largest possible discharge pressure in the line.

Certain concepts, to now be set forth, were applied to result in the previously-described design of the funnel. A rectangular orifice, say 1% inches by six inches (the dimensions at the lower end or outlet of the funnel), will limit the quantity of catalyst that will pass through it vertically, by gravity, to some fixed amount per unit of time. If the vertical approach to this orifice is a rectangular box of a given length and with a gradually diminishing cross-section approaching 1% inches by six inches, the maximum flow capacity of the orifice will be increased. The increase will be related to the length of the approach, and to the entrance cross-section of the approach. According to this invention, this phenomenon has been taken advantage of, to supply a relatively large flow of catalyst through a restricted opening (bottom end of funnel 1) which will allow the two jet streams (issuing through slots 13 and 22) to be as close together as practicable.

One end of a hollow transition member 23 is fastened to the front, downstream, or forward end (the left-hand end in FIG. 1) of box 3. Member 23 has a length of about twenty-four inches, for example, and serves in the catalyst flow path to convert the 2 /2 inches by six inches rectangular cross-section of box 3 (at one end of member 23) to a circular cross-section having a diameter of four inches (at the other end of member 23). One end of a short pipe nipple 24, four inches in diameter, is secured as by welding to the downstream end of member 23. The opposite end of nipple 24 is threaded for coupling to a four-inch diameter pipe (not shown) which extends to a catalyst storage bin. The center line of transition member 23 is preferably horizontal, as is the axis of the fourinch pipe which conveys the catalyst from box 3 to the remote storage bin.

As previously explained, the granular solid material is fed downwardly by gravity from a railroad hopper car, or other shipping container, into the upper end or inlet 2 of the funnel 1, and this material flows by gravity downwardly to the outlet end of the funnel. At the funnel outlet end, the material is entrained by the two high-pressure gaseous (compressed air) jets, and caused to move through box 3 and transition member 23 to pipe nipple 24, and thence through this nipple and the four-inch pipe to the storage bin.

By way of example, in an apparatus built according to this invention, catalyst could be transported at a rate of five to fifteen tons per hour through a four-inch pipe about 250 feet long. The air consumption would be 400 to 500 cubic feet per minute, at to 50 pounds p.s.i.g.

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus for transporting granular solid material, comprising a funnel having the plane of its inlet disposed substantially horizontally, so as to receive granular material moving downwardly due to gravitational force, the cross-sectional area of said funnel decreasing from said inlet toward the outlet thereof and the center line of said funnel extending from said inlet in a generally downward direction but being inclined at a small angle to the vertical, the plane of the outlet of said funnel lying at an angle in the range of to from the horizontal and the funnel outlet having a rectangular cross-section; an elongated chamber of rectangular cross-section connected to the outlet of said funnel for carrying the granular mate rial away from the funnel in a substantially horizontal direction, the longer cross-sectional dimension of the interior of said chamber being equal to the longer crosssectional dimension of the funnel outlet and said funnel outlet being spaced from the inner wall of said chamber, thereby to provide a pair of rectangular openings, one at each respective opposite side of the funnel outlet, whose longer dimensions are substantially equal to the longer cross-sectional dimension of the funnel outlet, and means projecting a high-pressure gaseous jet through each of said openings, said jets each having a component of motion directed away from said funnel in the direction of the length of said chamber.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the shorter dimensions of said openings are small compared to their longer dimensions and compared to the longer cross-sectional dimension of said funnel outlet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 477,692 6/ 1892 McConnell 302457 1,210,130 12/1916 Worsham 302-47 1,243,892 10/1917 Strong 30251 2,695,265 11/1954 Degnen 302-25 EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING GRANULAR SOLID MATERIAL, COMPRISING A FUNNEL HAVING THE PLANE OF ITS INLET DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY, SO AS TO RECEIVE GRANULAR MATERIAL MOVING DOWNWARDLY DUE TO GRAVITATIONAL FORCE, THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF SAID FUNNEL DECREASING FROM SAID INLET TOWARD THE OUTLET THEREOF AND THE CENTER LINE OF SAID FUNNEL EXTENDING FROM SAID INLET IN A GENERALLY DOWNWARD DIRECTION BUT BEING INCLINED AT A SMALL ANGLE TO THE VERTICAL, THE PLANE OF THE OUTLET OF SAID FUNNEL LYING AT AN ANGLE IN THE RANGE OF 45* TO 60* FROM THE HORIZONTAL AND THE FUNNEL OUTLET HAVING A RECTANGULAR CROSS-SECTION; AN ELONGATED CHAMBER OF RECTANGULAR CROSS-SECTION CONNECTED TO THE OUTLET OF SAID FUNNEL FOR CARRYING THE GRANULAR MATERIAL AWAY FROM THE FUNNEL IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL DIRECTION, THE LONGER CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSION OF THE INTERIOR OF SAID CHAMBER BEING EQUAL TO THE LONGER CROSSSECTIONAL DIMENSION OF THE FUNNEL OUTLET AND SAID FUNNEL OUTLET BEING SPACED FROM THE INNER WALL OF SAID CHAMBER, THEREBY TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF RECTANGULAR OPENINGS, ONE AT EACH RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE FUNNEL OUTLET, WHOSE LONGER DIMENSIONS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LONGER CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSION OF THE FUNNEL OUTLET, AND MEANS PROJECTING A HIGH-PRESSURE GASEOUS JET THROUGH EACH OF SAID OPENINGS, SAID JETS EACH HAVING A COMPONENT OF MOTION DIRECTED AWAY FROM SAID FUNNEL IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LENGTH OF SAID CHAMBER. 